The plan Warner is looking into would cost the county about $600 per month, or about $7,200 a year.

"It is coverage over and above what we have for catastrophic injuries," Warner said.

After Tuesday's meeting with Warner, the county commissioners gave Warner the go ahead to further research the insurance offered by Marsh.

"They will come back to us for a recommendation for any supplemental insurance we may need," Stahoviak said.

Warner said he believes he will be able to submit a recommendation to the commissioners in about six weeks.

The sheriff will try to get other counties involved in purchasing the catastrophic insurance. He said he is optimistic the premium for the insurance could be lowered if a group of counties approached the insurance company.

"I think we would be better going in as a group than sheriff office by sheriff office," he said.

The cost of medical bills comes at a time when officials within the sheriff's office are being proactive in keeping health care liability for the county at a minimum, Johnston said.

"We are doing a lot better job than we have ever done before in watchdogging inmate medical expenses," he said. "We try to make the inmate pay for the medical care so the county does not have to. We now ask for their insurance cards."

Johnston said he is hoping the county will purchase the additional health care coverage.

"Our whole focus of this insurance is to save the taxpayer money," he said. "That is the focus of this."